Steering knuckle assembly

ABSTRACT

A steering knuckle assembly includes a symmetrical wheel support bracket and a symmetrical steering member which are juxtaposed in different relationships to provide a right-hand and a left-hand configuration. In one embodiment, the wheel support bracket includes integral drawn cup portions forming a part of the ball joints which pivotally mount the steering knuckle to the suspension control arms.

11111660 States Patent 1191 Sampatacos 1 July 31, 1973 [54] STEERINGKNUCKLE ASSEMBLY 2,752,178 6/1956 Hoffman 280/961 X 41 7 1959 k [751Clint, 3,332,358 12/1966 Eff 337 K Ohio 3,563,564 2/1971 Bartkowiak...280 962 A x 3,129,023 4/1964 Fierstine 287/90 C [73] Assgnee' 93,472,331 /1969 Baker et a1. 280/96.l x

Detroit, M1ch.

[22] Filed: 1971 Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts 21 A 1 NW 1AssistqniExaminey-John P. Silyerstrim I 1 pp Attorney-J. L. Carpenterand F. J. Fodale [52] U.S. Cl. 280/96.1, 280/95, 287/ R 511 1111.01.862d 7/08, B626 7/20 RA [58] Field 0 SGII'CII 280/96.1, 96.2, 96.3, A ig knuckle assembly includes a symmetric 280/; 188/18 18 A; 287,87 90 R Cwheel support bracket and a symmetrical steering member which arejuxtaposed in different relationships [56] Rem'mces to provide aright-hand and a left-hand configuration.

UNITED STATES PA E ln one embodiment, the wheel support bracket in-2,435,814 2/1948 Allison 280/96.l elude integral drawn cup portionsforming a part of 2,356,164 8/1944 Keese 280/95 R the ball joints whichpivot/ally mount the steering 3,295,636 1/1967 Adams 188/18 R knuckle tothe suspension control arms, 3,332,518 7/1967 North at al. 188/18 A2,311,125 2/1943 Phelps 280/961 3 Clalms,'9 Drawing Figures 2 49 A, A9 Iz a a? ,Z v2. =1- \w a A Pmmcnm a ma sum 2 or 2 ATTORNEY STEERINGKNUCKLE ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to steering knucklesand more particularly to a multi-piece steering knuckle assembly.

Today, steering knuckles are generally cast or forged parts, wherein, asingle casting includes a steering arm as an integral part thereof. Suchpractice requires separate configurations for the left-hand and theright-handv steering knuckles.

Such a design, that is, different right and left-hand configurations iscostly since additional tooling, larger inventories and the increasedhandling of two different parts is required.

Moreover, the use of a casting for the steering knuckle including thesteering arm generally results in a relatively heavy part requiring theother parts of the suspension and steering system to be of largercapacity and therefore costlier.

Accordingly, the object of my invention in its broadest aspect is toimprove generally upon cast steering knuckles which are in common usetoday.

A feature of my invention is that the steering knuckle with the steeringarm is designed into a steering knuckle assembly in which a minimumnumber of parts provide both a right-hand and a left-hand steeringknuckle equipped with a steering arm.

Another feature of my invention is that the major parts of the steeringknuckle assembly are all secured together at the same time therebyproviding ease of assembly.

Another feature of my invention is that the major parts capable of bothright-hand and left-hand use are all secured together at the same time.

Another feature of my invention is that the brake reaction member ismounted on the same part which provides the steering arm thereby furtherminimizing the number of parts in the assembly.

Still another feature of my invention is that the major load carryingparts of the steering knuckle assembly are secured together in a strongand efficient manner thereby eliminating any weak point in the steeringsystem which might be attributable to the use of a multipart steeringknuckle assembly.

Yet, still another feature of my invention is to provide a steeringknuckle assembly with one of the above features which is made frompressed metal thereby effecting a cost and weight savings. While pressedmetal steering knuckle assemblies are shown in the prior art, forinstance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,311,125 issued to R. H.

pfih F r ary 16, 1 94s srsusfrarfna:

2,435,814 issued to W. D. Allison on Feb. I0, 1948, none of the priorart pressed metalsteering knuckle assemblies to my knowledge have theabove features of my invention.

In one of its embodiments, my object included that of integrating aportion of the ball joint into our steering knuckle assembly effecting astill further cost savmgs.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention asillustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front section view through a portion of a motor vehiclesuspension for a steerable wheel provided with a steering knuckleassembly in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view taken along theline 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows therelationship of the wheel support bracket and the steering member of thesteering knuckle assembly shown in FIG. 1.

The brake reaction member, that is the brake caliper, has been omittedin FIGS. I and 2 for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and shows adetail of the steering arm portion of the steering member adapted forconnection to a tie rod by a ball joint.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and shows thedetail of a portion on the steering member to which the brake reactionmember is mounted. I

FIG. 5 is a side view of the wheel support bracket shown in FIGS. 1 and2 with the mounting holes therein coded to explain the assemblyrelationships between the wheel support bracket and the steering memberfor right-hand and left-hand use.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the steering member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 withthe mounting holes therein also coded to explain the assemblyrelationship for righthand and left-hand use.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the wheel support bracket and the steeringmember showing one of their assembled relationships.

FIG. 8 is a schematic comparable to FIG. 7 showing the matching ofthebolt holes in the wheel support bracket and the steering member inthe other of their assembled relationships.

FIG. 9 is a front section view of a second embodiment of a supportbracket.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 there isshown a steering knuckle assembly indicated generally at 12 used tosupport a steerable wheel 14 independently suspended on a pair of spacedcontrol arms 16 which are pivotally mounted 'on a vehicle body (notshown).

The steering knuckle assembly 12 carries the stationary hub of a unithandled anti-friction bearing assembly indicated generally at 20. Thewheel 14 in turn is carried by the rotatable spindle or live axle" ofthe bearing assembly 20. 7

The steering knuckle assembly 12 comprises a pressed metal wheel supportbracket 22 which is dish shaped having a planarportion 23 and a sidewall'25 with two integral deep drawn cup portions 24. The cup portions24 form housingsfor the upper and lower ball joints 26 which pivotallymount the' wheel support bracket to the upper and lower control arms 16for steering movement about the axis 28. Besides the housing 24, each ofthe ball joints 26 include a ball stud 30 with a partispherical headdisposed in the housing which together with a powdered metal ballannulus 32 forms a ball. A hard plastic bearing seat 34 with a flexiblesealing lip 36 is disposed between the exterior of each of the housings24 on the wheel support bracket 22 and one of the control arms 16. Thestud 30 extends out of a recess 18 in the housing portions 24 on theball studs through aligned holes in the plastic bearing seats 34 and thecontrol arms 16. Nuts threaded on the end of the ball stud portionssecure the ball joint 26 to the control arms 16 thus pivotally mountingthe wheel sup port bracket thereto about the steering plane 28 which inthis instance is canted combined with respect to a vertical axis 29through the center of the wheel 14. The ball stud portions are keyed tothe control arms 16 at 17 to prevent rotation of the ball stud portionwith respect to the control arms.

The flexible seal lip 36 on the plastic bearing seat engages theexterior of the ball housing 26 to prevent the entry of dirt and othermatter between the plastic hearing seat 34 and that portion of thehousing 24 which forms a bearing with it. A cover 38 with a centralgrease fitting 40 protects the interior of the ball joint 26.

The steering knuckle assembly 20 also includes a pressed metal steeringmember 42 which is symmetrical about the axis 44. See FIG. 2. The axis44 is skewed with respect to the steering axis 28 and appears tointersect it at an imaginary point 46 at the center of the live axle.However, by referring momentarily back to FIG. 1, it can be seen thatthe axis 44 is actually spaced from the steering axis 28 and that thepoint 46 is actually an axis 46 through the center of the bearingassembly 20.

Returning to FIG. 2, it is seen that the steering member 42 has a flatportion 43 and is folded or dish shaped at its left-hand end to providestrengthening flanges 47 on an integral steering arm 45. The flanges 47have aligned apertures 48 which receive the stud portion of a ball joint(not shown) used to connect the steering arm 45 to a tie rod forsteering the wheel 14. The detail of the tie rod connection end of thesteering member 42 is shown in FIG. 3. It is to be understood that insome instances a sleeve may be inserted in the aligned holes 48 forreceipt of the ball joint stud. In some instances, it may be desirableto taper this sleeve for use with a tapered shank type of ball joint. Insuch instances, the steering member would not be symmetrical about theaxis 44 after a tapered sleeve had been assembled thereto. However, thesteering member minus the tapered sleeve would be symmetrical.

The right-hand end of the steering member as seen in FIG. 2 has twospaced tongues 50 which are shown in FIG. 4 as being channel shaped incross section. The two spaced tongues 50 are used to mount the reactionmember of a brake such as the caliper assembly in a disc type brake. Thecaliper assembly has been omitted from the several figures in order tomore clearly show the adjacent structure of the wheel assembly.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheel support bracket 22 and thesteering member 42 are both secured to an integral flange 52 on the hubof the bearing assembly 20.

The means for securing the two parts of the steering knuckle assembly 12together, which in this case is by securing both to the bearing assembly20, is important. As disclosed herein, the securing means comprises anumber of bolts 54 which extend through aligned holes 56 and 58 in theplanar portion 23 of the wheel support bracket 22 and in the flatportion 43 of the steering member 42 respectively. The bolts 54 arethreadably received in the flange 52 of the bearing assembly 20. Thebolt and hole pattern is an important feature to this invention. As canmore clearly be seen in FIG. 2, the bolt and hole pattern comprises anarray of discrete securing elements equally circumferentially spacedabout a circle centered about the bearing axis 46. In the specificexample of this disclosure, five discrete securing elements in apentagon array are used. This array is symmetrical about both the axis28 and the axis 44. The specific reason for this pattern is to provideboth a right-hand and a left-hand steering knuckle assembly.

The specific manner in which this is accomplished will be explained morefully hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Returning to FIG. 1, it is seen that the steering knuckle assembly alsoincludes a splash shield 60 having a plurality of holes in theaforementioned pattern. The splash shield 60 is sandwiched between thesteering member 42 and the flange 52 on the bearing assembly 20.

It is to be noted that the manner of securing the two parts 22 and 42 ofthe steering knuckle assembly together simultaneously with being securedto the flange 52 provides ease of assembly and also a strong connectionof relatively high load carrying capacity since the bolt holes areplaced in completely continuous portions on the two parts. The planarportion 23 of the wheel support bracket 22 and the flat portion 43 ofthe steering member 42 are closed box structures and as such arerelatively strong. Another feature to be noted is that the steeringmember 42 also includes tongues 50 for mounting the brake reactionmember (not shown). This minimizes the number of parts in the assemblyand is possible because of the relatively high load capacity of thesecuring means which must take the torque imposed on it by the brakereaction member.

The-spindle portion of the bearing assembly 20 includes a secondintegral flange 62 having a plurality of bolts 64 with serrated shanks66 pressed into holes in the second flange 62. The threaded ends of thebolts extend away from the flange 52 on the hub of the bearing assemblythus adapting the bearing assembly spindle for convenient attachment ofthe wheel 14 and a brake disc 68 thereto by nuts 70 threadably receivedon the ends of the bolts 64.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the front view of the wheel support bracket 22is shown with its pentagon array of holes 56 coded A, B, C, D and Estarting at a 12 oclock position on the bolt hole circle 72 and movingclockwise thercfrom. The front view as seen in FIG. 5, is that seen fromthe interior side of the wheel 14 on the lefthand or drivers side of theautomobile. Similarly, FIG. 6 shows the steering member 42 oriented forleft-hand use when seen from this same vantage point. The bolt holes 58in the steering member 42 have been coded F, G, H, I and J starting withthe l2 oclock position on the bolt hole circle 74 and proceedingclockwise therefrom. It is to be noted that both the bolt hole circle 72and bolt hole circle 74 are on equal radii centered from the bearingaxis 46.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship of the wheel support bracket 22 and thesteering member 42 just prior to assembly onto the hub 52 (shown inFIG. 1) of the bearing assembly 20 to provide the left-hand steeringknuckle assembly. In the left-hand configuration the hole A of the wheelsupport bracket 22 is aligned with the hole F of the steering member 42,the hole B of the wheel support bracket 22 is aligned with the hole G ofthe steering member 42, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a schematic illustrating thematching of the aforementioned coded bolt holes in the wheel supportbracket 22 and the steering member 42 for assembly to the flange 52 onthe bearing assembly 20 to form the right-hand steering knuckle. Inorder for the wheel support bracket 22 to provide the right-hand wheelsupport bracket, it is retated about the steering axis 28. See FIG. 5.With the bolt hole matching pattern being viewed from the same vantagepoint, that is the interior side of the wheel, the relative position ofthe bolt holes on the wheel support bracket 22 remains the same. Thatis, hole A remains in the 12 oclock position and holes B, C, D and E areequally circumferentially spaced sequentially therefrom on the bolt holecircle 72 in the clockwise direction. In order for the steering member42 to provide the right-hand steering member it is rotated 180 about theaxis 44. See FIG. 6. With the bolt hole pattern in the steering memberbeing viewed from the same vantage point, that is the interior side ofthe right-hand wheel, the positions of the bolt holes F and H and J andl are reversed. Thus, while the hole G remains in the same relativeposition at approximately 2 oclock the holes proceed H, l, J, and F inthe counterclockwise rather than the clockwise direction therefrom. Thismatching of holes is shown in FIG. 8 wherein the hole A in wheel supportbracket 22 is aligned with the hole F in the steering member 42, thehole B in the wheel support bracket 22 is aligned with the hole G withthe steering member 42, etc. The steering member 42 and the wheelsupport bracket 22 are secured in this relationship to the bearingflange 52 in the right-hand steering knuckle assembly.

It is to be understood, of course, that while the use of a pentagonarray of bolt holes, that is, five bolt holes equally circumferentiallyspaced on equal bolt hole circles on the wheel support bracket 22 andthe steering member 42 has been illustrated for purposes of disclosurethat other arrays may be used so long as the array is symmetrical aboutboth of the axes 28 and 44.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown the front section view of analternate wheel support bracket 122 which can be used for a steeringknuckle assembly indicated generally at 112 in accordance with myinvention. The wheel support bracket 122 has separate sleeves 124secured thereto in place of the integral ball joint housing 24 on thewheel support bracket 22. The sleeves 124 have tapered bores 126 whichare adapted to receive the stud portion of a ball joint. When the wheelsupport bracket 122 is used, the stud portions of the ball joints aresecured to the wheel support bracket and the ball joint housings aresecured to the suspension control arms.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a mounting assembly for a steerable wheel rotatably mounted on abearing for rotation about a wheel axis, said bearing including astationary flange, a steering knuckle assembly comprising:

a single piece, pressed metal support bracket having an axis and acontinuous circumferential strengthening flange with means for mountingsaid wheel support bracket in a steerable wheel suspension system topivot about said axis,

said support bracket having a flat portion provided with a plurality ofequally circumferentially spaced holes, said support bracket beingsymmetric to a plane passing through said axis,

a single piece, elongated pressed metal steering mem ber having alongitudinal axis, said steering member having a flanged steering armend portion, a flat central portion provided with a plurality of equally'circumferentially spaced holes aligned with said first mentioned holesand a bifurcated end portion for mounting a brake reaction member,

said steering member being symmetric to a plane passing through saidlongitudinal axis,

means extending through said aligned holes simultaneously securing saidsupport bracket and said steering member to said flange in anasymmetrical configuration with said planes intersecting each other atsaid wheel axis,

said bolt holes being arrayed symmetric to both of said planes wherebysaid support bracket and said steering member when reversed about saidaxis and said longitudinal'axis respectively and secured to said flangeform a corresponding asymmetrical configuration of opposite hand, and

said bolt holes being concentric with said wheel axis and being providedin continuous portions respectively of said flat portions of saidsupport bracket and said steering member thereby providing a strongconnection between said support bracket, said steering member and saidbearing flange.

2. A ball joint for pivotally mounting a wheel support bracket to acontrol arm, or the like, comprising:

a pressed metal housing integral with said wheel support bracket,

ball stud means having a head portion slideably engaging the interior ofsaid housing,

an annular bearing seat slideably engaging the exterior of said housingopposite said head portion,

a stud on said ball stud means extending out of said housing and throughsaid bearing seat, and

means non-rotatably securing said stud to said control arm with saidannular bearing seat sandwiched between said housing and said controlarm.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 further including an integralflexible lip on said bearing seat which wipingly engages the exterior ofsaid housing to exclude the entry of deleterious matter into the area ofcontact between said bearing seat and said housing.

4 l l I I

1. In a mounting assembly for a steerable wheel rotatably mounted on abearing for rotation about a wheel axis, said bearing including astationary flange, a steering knuckle assembly comprising: a singlepiece, pressed metal support bracket having an axis and a continuouscircumferential strengthening flange with means for mounting said wheelsupport bracket in a steerable wheel suspension system to pivot aboutsaid axis, said support bracket having a flat portion provided with aplurality of equally circumferentially spaced holes, said supportbracket being symmetric to a plane passing through said axis, a singlepiece, elongated pressed metal steering member having a longitudinalaxis, said steering member having a flanged steering arm end portion, aflat central portion provided with a plurality of equallycircumferentially spaced holes aligned with said first mentioned holesand a bifurcated end portion for mounting a brake reaction member, saidsteering member being symmetric to a plane passing through saidlongitudinal axis, means extending through said aligned holessimultaneously securing said support bracket and said steering member tosaid flange in an asymmetrical configuration with said planesintersecting each other at said wheel axis, said bolt holes beingarrayed symmetric to both of said planes whereby said support bracketand said steering member when reversed about said axis and saidlongitudinal axis respectively and secured to said flange form acorresponding asymmetrical configuration of opposite hand, and said boltholes being concentric with said wheel axis and being provided incontinuous portions respectively of said flat portions of said supportbracket and said steering member thereby providing a strong connectionbetween said support bracket, said steering member and said bearingflange.
 2. A ball joint for pivotally mounting a wheel support bracketto a control arm, or the like, comprising: a pressed metal housingintegral with said wheel support bracket, ball stud means having a headportion slideably engaging the interior of said housing, an annularbearing seat slideably engaging the exterior of said housing oppositesaid head portion, a stud on said ball stud means extending out of saidhousing and through said bearing seat, and means non-rotatably securingsaid stud to said control arm with said annular bearing seat sandwichedbetween said housing and said control arm.
 3. The combination as definedin claim 2 further including an integral flexible lip on said bearingseat which wipingly engages the exteRior of said housing to exclude theentry of deleterious matter into the area of contact between saidbearing seat and said housing.